The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
STORIES ABOUT ANIMALS.

It is said that the horses at the fire headquar-
tiers in Detroit have learned to distinguish be-
tween two telephone bells in the engine house,
one of which communicates between the engine
houses, and the other sometimes transmits fire
alarm the horses pay no attention to the prl-
va.e telephone, but prick up their ears and
listen whenever the other rings
recent visitor to Mr. Thomas Bailey Aldrich
describes the belongings of the distinguished
editor Of the Atlantic. among them being hand
some Irish setter. The intelligence of this noble
animal may be judged from the fact that he Will
tahe in his mouth roll OF manuscript sent In
by would contributor to the magazine and
carry it to the editorial waste basket every time
showing an instinct that the readers of the At
lantic little know how to appreciate.
The other day rats nest was found, says
writer in the New Orleans Picayune. 1t was
lined with paper and straw, and in it were eight
little rats. 1t did not take long to decide the
fate of the little hearts-they were with
weight consigned to a bucket OF water. In
few minutes old mother rat returned to seek her
babies; alas, they were gone, her soft nest gone.
too, and although the bucket with the dead
rats had been placed at least fifty feet from
where the nest was the mother rat discovered
it. and into the bucket of water she went, and
there saw her trying to rescue her drowned
children. It was sad sight, even il it was only
a rat mourning her little ones!
few months ago, while visiting friend on
a cattle ranch in tie San Andreas mountains OF
southern New Mexico, says a writer in Science,
! saw what seemed to me most abnormal habit.
My friend had young antelope six or seven
months old. which he had captured when very
young, and kept as ret about tie ranch. This
animal is, by the way, very tame. following Its
master about without once Offering to JON Its
fellows. which often come in sight of the house
When offered pieces OF raw beef it will eat the
meat with evident relish and in preference to
vegetable food. / have seen 1t eat piece after
piece, until it had disposed of half pound or
more; then it would walk to the corn-crib, and
eat corn as a sort of desert
spaniel living on farm in Flanders had for
companion a beautiful young cat whom the
ruthless farmer had doomed to determination
Tying stone around her neck he threw her
into the river. But the spaniel "precpitated
himself resolutely" into the stream and brought
her back in triumph to the house. Will it be
believed that the heart of the farmer remained
hardened2 Again he threw poor puss into the
Meuse; but again, like another Horatius the
spaniel-though without Ibis harness on his
back" that had been reserved for the next mar
ket day-"plunged headlong into the tide" Not
only so, but again he drew her safe to shore.
landmark the point of the story-it was to the
further shore of the Meuse he would not trust
his friend to the mercies of the home side again.
The mandrill is part-colored monkey, and
as full Of prauks any of them. This story ia
told of one of them: One of the helpers went
into the cage to do some cleaning. The cage is
very high one, and. not being able to reach all
the spots that needed washing, he procured a
barrel, and, standing on it, proceeded. mop IN
hand, to clean down the walls. The mandrill
took 1t all in and, quietly slipping down, pulled
the barrel away Down came the unfortunate
helper fiat on his back, and mad as a man could
we'll be- He got up mop in hand and was going
to give Mr.. Mandrill Monk a good walloping,
which he richly deserved, but the rainbow
haired of Africa had mounted the topmost
perch, anticipating his intentions. and kept we'll
out of reach
goat belonging to Deputy Sheriff Trumbo,
of Baltimore, has just died mysteriously. The
| animal had his pecuiarities. According to the
| statements of those who knew him, of his
| favorite pranks was to watch a peanut stand in
| the neighborhood until the keepers back was
| turned, and grab mouthful of peanuts. When
| his appetite for peanuts was satisfied he would
| stroll through the neighborhood and pick ul
things found lying around loose. On one
| occasion he brought homo a door mat, and al
| another time bed spread which had attracted
| his eye On one occasion he went into house
| where someone was dead, and pulling the cover
| ing off the corpse, made of with it. Mr.. Trumbo
| thinks the goat was poisoned by some person
| who does not appreciate animal sagacity. II
| the goat had lived he might have been taught &c
4 serve summonses
| Whether horse can laugh is, believe, dis
| puted question among men of science, but thai
horse has o sense of humor was apparent &c
me in the action of one yesterday. The animal
| which was attached to an express wagon, haC
| shown balky disposition. and despite coaxins
| and whipping, refused to bulge. To overcome
| his obstinacy a rope fastened to his wagon wa:
| tied to another which had been placed in cont
and the horse attached to this vehicle was whip
| ped I'D vigorously. He started with will, bu
| the rope broke. / happened 10 be looking a
the time, and noticed an expression OF the balky
| horses face which was as near an approach to
laugh as ever expect to see on an equine coun
| tenance 1t was even moro expressive than
| laugh, for it was sardopic smile of colnpla
| cency. And right ''on the heels, so to speak, o
this facial humor, the horse started off vigor
| ously with his load.
| A lady who owns parrot in Detroit was On
PERTAINING some callers the other day, whel
Polly struck into the conversation from hel
place of ambush. One lady had just remarked
$50 glad You were at home to day, Mrs. -
''Thats lie!" responded a hoarse voice.
| The visitors started, but as their hostes
seemed not to notice it, resumed the converse
| tion
II saw Mr. and told him to ~
kiss me! kiss mel" screamed Polly.
| Say that would call soon"
'Youre another! Shut up!" yelled the parrot
At this juncture the lady of the house, oh
serving how disconnected her guests were, ant
guessing at the cause, dragged Polly into sight
| The mischievous bird did not utter another wor
until the ladies rose to leave, when they wer
most affectionate and profuse in their farewe,ls
Polly balanced rapidly from foot to tn
other gave series of smacks and in tone o
complete disgust croaked:
"You make me sick.'
Queerer still than the caterpillars which pre-
tend to be leaves or flowers for the sake of pre-
lection are those truly diabolcal and peridiou
Brazilian spiders which, as Mr. Bates observed
are brilliantly coiored with crimson and purple
but double themselves up at the base of lea
stalks. so as to resemble flower buds. and thu
deceive the insects upon which they prey Their
is something nideousiy wicked anu cruel in mi
lowest depth of initiative infamy. A flower bu
is something SO innocent and child-like; an
to disguise oneself such for purposes
murder and rapine argues the fin.
; abyss of arachnoid peridy. 1t reminds on
of that charming aud amiable youn
lady in Mr.. Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dyn,
inter- who amused herself in moments of ten
porary gayety by blowing up inhabited house.
inmates and ali, out OF pure lightness Of heal
and girlish frlvolity An Indian .mantis
| loa nlrod .,